9 Tips For A Food-Friendly Beach Day

9 Tips For A Food-Friendly Beach Day

What's in (and out) of your cooler?

Take a few moments to think about what you’re putting in that cooler before you haul it to the beach. You might save yourself some food (and disappointment) if that block of cheese stays nice and cool in the fridge instead of sweating in the sand with you. Read on for more pearls of wisdom and bring your beach checklist up to snuff for a fun, food-friendly day in the sun.

Never forget the water Hands-down the most obvious beach must-have. Without adequate hydration, you run the risk of heat stroke or something more serious. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should avoid cocktails — just make sure there’s twice as much water as there is alcohol, just to be safe.

Bring on the trail mix, granola, and dried fruits Refueling is especially important when spending an entire day in the sun. By packing snacks like nuts and dried fruits, which are packed with protein and carbohydrates, you’ll have delicious and easy snacks that will give you energy all day long.

Wrap it up If you do plan on a sunset beach BBQ, be sure you wrap up your raw meats and pack them the right way, the safe way. The last thing you want is an entire cooler of contaminated food and drinks. More importantly, make sure your cooler can keep any raw ingredients cool enough, long enough.

Frozen fruits serve double duty No one ever said that ice cubes were the only way to keep a cooler chilled. As an alternative, freeze grapes or berries, then add them to your cooler when you head to the beach. Not only are frozen fruits amazingly refreshing, but they will also help keep the temperature down in those red-and-white Igloos.

Ditch the dip Pita, pretzels, and chips are all delicious with dips like hummus or salsa, but are not always the best ideas for snacks at the beach. One gust of wind and you may get more sand in each bite than satisfaction. As a rule of thumb, the less exposed your food to the elements, the better.

What other items are on your food-friendly beach essentials list? Let us know in the comments below.